Lemon tree named &#39;SUMMER PRIM&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar  Citrus limon  (L.) Brum.f. is provided which displays a substantially different time for initial fruit harvest than the standard ‘Primofiori’ cultivar (non-patented in the United States). The attractive juicy fruit of the new cultivar commonly is initially ready for harvest in about the middle of May. This follows greatly the typical November initial harvest time for the ‘Primofiori’ cultivar. The new cultivar is a diploid, and displays a relatively dense spreading growth habit. The supply of the fresh fruit market for consumption, use in beverages, and in cooking is facilitated at an atypical season of the year by the new cultivar.

BOTANICAL/COMMERCIAL CLASSIFICATION

Citrus limon (L.) Brum.f./Lemon Tree

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

cv. Summer Prim

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new and distinct late-ripening lemon cultivar of the presentinvention was discovered while growing in a cultivated area of theMurica region of Spain while present among standard ‘Primofiori’ lemontrees (non-patented in the United States). A single plant of the newcultivar was found, was carefully preserved, and thereafter was observedto confirm its distinctive combination of characteristics. Had the newcultivar of the present invention not been discovered and preserved itwould have been lost to mankind. This new cultivar is believed to be aspontaneous mutation of the ‘Primofiori’ lemon tree of unknowncausation.

It was found that the new Lemon cultivar of the present invention:

(a) is a diploid,

(b) forms attractive fruit which when compared to the ‘Primofiori’cultivar displays a substantially later season of maturity, and,

(c) displays a relatively dense spreading growth habit. The new cultivarhas been asexually reproduced at the Murcia region of Spain by graftingon standard ‘sour orange’ rootstock (non-patented in the United States).The combination of characteristics, including the consistent productionof late maturing fruit, has been shown to be stable and is reliablytransmitted to succeeding generations following such asexualreproduction. Accordingly, the new cultivar reproduces in a true-to-typemanner by such asexual reproduction.

The fruit quality of the new cultivar has been found to be substantiallysimilar to that of the standard ‘Primofiori’ cultivar.

The new cultivar can be readily distinguished from ‘Primofiori’ lemon inview of its extremely later time for the harvest of mature fruit. Forinstance, at the Murcia region of Spain the fruit of the ‘Primofiori’lemon commonly is initially of a maturity suitable for harvest inNovember. However, the fruit of the new cultivar commonly is of amaturity suitable for harvest approximately six months later (i.e.,during the following middle of May) when grown under comparableconditions in the Northern Hemisphere. Harvest commonly is carried outfrom about mid-May until about mid-July. The fruit of the new cultivaralso initially matures at a substantially later time than the ‘Verna’cultivar (non-patented in the United States).

Accordingly, growers of the new cultivar are able to supply thecommercial market with quality freshly-picked lemon fruit at a differentseason of the year than growers of the ‘Primofiori’ lemon. The time ofinitial fruit maturity for new cultivar is displayed at a different timewhen fresh lemons continue to be in demand for purchase by consumers.Growers of the new cultivar thereby are enabled to benefit significantlyfrom the atypical season of fruit maturity that is reliably manifest bythe presently-claimed new lemon plant. It follows that those growing thestandard ‘Primofiori’ lemon are unlikely to be able to offer qualityfreshly-picked mature fruit at the same time of the year.

The new plant of the present invention has been named ‘Summer Prim’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this character, atypical tree of the new cultivar, as well as a comparison of the wholeand sectioned fruit of the new cultivar with that of the ‘Primofiori’and ‘Verna’ cultivars (each non-patented in the United States). Theillustrated plants were grown under the same conditions at the Murciaregion of Spain.

FIG. 1 shows the overall relatively dense and spreading growth habit ofa typical specimen of the new cultivar. The photograph depicts a tree ofapproximately seven years of age and was obtained during March 2015.

FIG. 2 shows a closer view of the foliage and the abundant formation ofimmature fruit that is in process of ripening while present on a typicalspecimen of the new cultivar. The same or a comparable tree to that ofFIG. 1 is being depicted.

FIG. 3 shows whole and in cross sections attractive typical specimens ofthe mature fruit of the new cultivar of the invention at the time ofinitial harvest (i.e., typically during the middle of May).

FIG. 4 shows for comparative purposes typical whole and sectioned fruitof the ‘Verna’ cultivar (top), the ‘Primofiori’ cultivar (middle), andthe new cultivar of the present invention (bottom). The photograph wasobtained on Feb. 13, 2015 at a time when the fruit of the new cultivarhad not yet ripened to a stage of full maturity. The illustrated fruitof each cultivar was picked on the same date and was produced in thesame field.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The described plants of the new cultivar were appropriately seven yearsof age, had been asexually reproduced by grafting on standard ‘sourorange’ rootstock (non-patented in the United States) outdoors in fullsunlight at the Murcia region of Spain. Observations obtained during thegrowing season of 2014 are presented.

-   Classification: Citrus limon (L.) Burm.f.-   Tree:    -   -   Ploidy.—diploid.        -   Growth habit.—dense and spreading.        -   Spines.—relatively short and commonly present in a moderate            quantity.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf shape.—generally ovate to elliptic.        -   Leaf apex.—acute with the absence of emargination. leaf base            substantially obtuse. leaf size relatively long and broad as            illustrated in FIG. 2, and commonly intermediate in            thickness.        -   Leaf margin.—entire with absent or weak undulation.        -   Leaf color.—commonly medium green with a moderate presence            of anthocyanin.        -   Petioles.—commonly medium in length with the absence of            wings.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Habit.—commonly flowers once per season.        -   Buds.—commonly display a moderate presentation of            anthocyanin coloration.        -   Flower size.—medium in overall size.        -   Petals.—commonly medium in length and width.        -   Stamen.—filaments are medium in length, anthers are            light-yellow in coloration and commonly bear pollen of            light-yellow coloration.        -   Styles.—commonly are medium in length.-   Fruit:    -   -   Configuration.—generally elongated, relatively large in            diameter and broadest towards the middle region (as            illustrated).        -   Neck.—absent.        -   Proximal end.—slightly rounded.        -   Distal end.—slightly rounded with the absence of grooves.        -   Nipple.—commonly present and medium in size.        -   Surface texture.—generally smooth in the absence of extreme            roughness, and commonly with moderate glossiness.        -   Persistence of style.—commonly none.        -   Rind.—commonly medium in thickness with medium oiliness.        -   Surface color.—commonly light-yellow (as illustrated) in the            substantial absence of variegation.        -   Filling of interior.—very dense commonly with a moderate            number of developed segments and the absence of rudimentary            segments.        -   Core diameter.—relatively small.        -   Seeds.—commonly approximately 6 to 10 per fruit on average.        -   Juiciness.—high.        -   Maturity.—very late.        -   Harvest time.—commonly during about mid-May until about            mid-July in the northern Hemisphere.        -   Market.—fresh for consumption, use in beverages, and for use            in cooking.

Plants of the new ‘Summer Prim’ cultivar have not been observed underall possible environment conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possiblethat the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in lightintensity and duration, cultural practices, and other environmentalconditions.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of lemon tree having thefollowing combination of characteristics: (a) displays diploidy, (b)forms attractive fruit which when compared to the ‘Primofiori’ cultivardisplays a substantially later season of maturity, and (c) displays arelatively dense spreading growth habit; substantially as illustratedand described.